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Ivan Ahkinga

Fri, 01/06/2017 - 4:00pmadmin

January 10, 1952-December 3, 2016

Ivan was the youngest child born to Jacob and Catherine Ahkinga in Little Diomede on January 10, 1952.

Ivan spent his childhood on Little Diomede beside his 13 brothers and sister climbing among the rocks, laughing and playing with friends. As Ivan grew older his father, uncles and Uppa taught him to hunt seals, oogruks, walrus and whales, making and using an anoviaq to catch birds, make hunt tools, build and repair skin boats, carve ivory and from generations of handed-down knowledge of what it takes to be a successful hunter and provider for his family.

Ivan attended elementary and junior high school on Little Diomede. He attended boarding school in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Salem, Oregon. He graduated from Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon in 1973. He moved to Anchorage to attend UAA and studied welding to make it his life career. He was proud to have been a part of building the Great Alaska Pipeline.

Ivan and Nancy lived in Diomede where they raised six boys. In the early 1990s Ivan moved his family to Anchorage and made a home for his family. On November 21, 2013 was Ivan’s proudest moment in life when he tied the knot with his life-time love Nancy of 44 years. Happiness to Ivan was spending time with his grandchildren and great grandson and his daily prayers.